Russia to plan the development of a new modernized assault rifle for the Russian army 2412131

Posted On
Tuesday, 24 December 2013 08:03

a

Defence & Security News - Russia

Tuesday, December
24, 2013 08:55 AM

Russia
to plan the development of a new modernized assault rifle for the Russian
army.

The recently established
Kalashnikov Concern is planning to develop a modernized assault rifle
for the Russian Army and hopes to increase the number of models available
for export, its general director said in an exclusive interview with
RIA Novosti. “We are currently engaged with a large number of
research and development projects for a number of government agencies
… we hope to begin a modernization of the AK-74 for the Defense
Ministry,” Konstantin Busygin said.

Later that month it was reported that the AK-12–
originally intended as an infantry rifle – was passed over by the
Russian military. Senior commanders said they did not need the AK-12 when
the army had millions of AK-74s stockpiled.

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry
Rogozin, who oversees the defense industry, said in September that the
Russian military was planning on standardizing on a single modernized
rifle, the AK-12,
to replace three aging rifle models.

No announcement has yet been made by the Defense Ministry about modernizing
the AK-74. Busygin noted that Kalashnikov will move forward with trials
of the AK-12
assault rifle for law enforcement agencies.

The company also plans to sell the advanced Yarygin MP-443 pistol –
currently used only by special units – in large numbers to the
Defense Ministry, he said.

Busygin suggested further modifications to the AK-74 could be made for
international customers, particularly for export to the United States,
Kalashnikov’s largest market for civilian weapons.

The Kalashnikov Concern was formed earlier this year with the merger
of Izhmash – the Izhevsk-based manufacturer of Kalashnikov rifles
– with several other defense enterprises. The move was intended
to consolidate the Russian small arms industry under a single vertically-integrated
holding company and return the Izhmash factory to profitability after
it went into bankruptcy last year.

Busygin noted that this year the company more than doubled the production
of aircraft guns compared to last year. In June the company won a $400
million contract to supply a new anti-tank missile for the Russian military.